6 things to know about the Austin rock throwing suspect

On Thursday, Austin police arrested Patrick Eugene Johnson, 59, whom they say is responsible for more than 90 rock-throwing incidents along Interstate 35 since 2014. He is being charged with attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, though he may face additional charges, and is being held in Travis County Jail with bail set at $250,000.

Courtesy of Austin Police Department

Here are a few things to know about the suspect in the rock-throwing case:

1. In July 2013, Johnson was indicted on three counts of sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. According to the affidavit, the victim was 13 years old when he first met Johnson and “stated that a friend of his had introduced him to Johnson since Johnson was known to provide marijuana, beer, cigarettes.” Johnson had been out of jail on a $20,000 bond, but his case is still pending. Read more here.

2. Johnson was in the towing business for 40 years, according to his LinkedIn. He retired in 2004 due to medical issues and formed anti-towing activist organization Texas Towing Compliance in 2006. He has since acted as president of the organization. Texas Towing Compliance purports to document illegal towing practices and advise people how to fight their tows. He is well-known to the Austin Police Department and City Hall, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo noted in Thursday’s press conference. Johnson is a frequent speaker during citizen communications time at Austin City Council meetings, railing about certain tow-truck operators and alleging that police refuse to enforce city towing regulations.

3. Johnson has a YouTube channel featuring videos of his appearances before various government panels, including the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Other videos feature him driving around and exposing what he calls predatory towing practices, scams and “organized criminal activity.”

4. Also according to his LinkedIn, Johnson claims he won a Distinguished Service Award from APD, though no details are given. Though his page says he works closely with Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, his videos on YouTube mostly criticize the agency for failing to adequately regulate tow drivers.

5. He also has a Twitter account with the username @atxniceguy. Additionally, there is a @PATJ0HNS0N Twitter account that appears to be a parody account. It was created in December 2015. The person behind the account is unknown.

6. Johnson is public about his health problems on social media and has spoken about them on several other occasions. He opened his Feb. 27, 2014, appearance before the Austin City Council by saying “I was up here yesterday visiting y’all and I collapsed because of medical issues and they had to take me to the hospital by EMS out of City Hall.”

According to his Facebook account, Johnson said he was going to “live my remaining time in Hospice.” He also mentioned that an unnamed group “is taking control of my Texas Towing Compliance effective June 23, 2016.”